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Pacific Palisades Reopens to the Public Following Fire, LAPD Stop in Center Opens

By
Sarah Shmerling
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Stop in Center
Photo courtesy of Palisades Recovery Coalition

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

Following months of checkpoints that have been staffed by Los Angeles Police Department and National Guard, Pacific Palisades reopened to the public, effective Saturday, June 14, at 6 a.m.

Since the Palisades fire on January 7, a portion of the Palisades has had its access restricted to residents, contractors, first responders and essential businesses. Following the reopening of a stretch of Pacific Coast Highway between Chautauqua Boulevard and Carbon Beach Terrace to the public on Friday, May 23, access to the Palisades was provided through 16 checkpoints.

“Due to citywide operational needs and demands, the LAPD has recommended a shift in the security plan in the Pacific Palisades to deploy officers to other parts of the city,” Mayor Karen Bass wrote on June 15. “On Saturday, the LAPD and contracted security guards began engaging in high-visibility patrols throughout the Pacific Palisades instead of operating fixed traffic control points.”

Bass reported on Monday, June 23, that as of June 22, “there have been no reported crimes in the Pacific Palisades.”

Bass’ office, along with Councilmember Park and LAPD officials, hosted two community meetings on June 16 and 24 to detail the changes.

“I know these changes are upsetting for some of you, and I take those concerns very seriously,” Park said on June 14. “Please know there will continue to be a very heavy presence of police and security in and around the area, and LAPD is fully committed to working closely with the community to make additional changes as needed.”

Park reported that while no crime had been reported at the time of the June 24 meeting, her office was aware of tour buses that had been in the Palisades. She said she was “profoundly disturbed by the presence of tour buses” and found the “exploitation of this tragedy to be offensive and disgusting.” She is working on legislation, which was slated to be introduced as soon as June 25.

“This is something that we are taking very, very seriously,” Park said.

LAPD confirmed during the June 16 meeting they would have “high-visibility patrols” seven days per week, 24 hours per day. The city-contracted private security companies that LAPD will be working with include ACS, Gates, Nastec, Black Knight, Allied and Apollo.

Chief Jim McDonnell said on June 16 that the Palisades was in a “very good place” from a public safety standpoint.

“I wish we had the luxury of being able to provide some advance notice on [changes], but we had the unrest,” McDonnell said during the meeting. “That’s something I really have a hard time describing unless you were here in downtown LA—it was intense. It went on for an extended period of time.”

McDonnell said that “it’s a balancing act, always,” as LAPD has “very limited resources.”

“We’re down 1,400 officers from where we were a couple of years ago,” McDonnell said. “It’s a constant triage to be able to do the best job we can with the limited resources we could get to apply to any problem.”

Captain Rich Gabaldon described a “pretty successful” transition over the first weekend. For patrolling purposes, the Palisades has been divided into four sectors, with two officers in each sector, as well as 16 private security officers at a time.

There is also the “traditional A1 and basic car,” to “handle calls for service and respond to emergencies.” California Highway Patrol was also still patrolling the Palisades as of the time of the meeting, but their resources will be pulled at their discretion, according to McDonnell.

LAPD also announced it has launched a “Stop in Center” in the Palisades with help from Palisades Recovery Coalition. This is a location where officers assigned to the Palisades can write reports, eat lunch and meet with community members. This will “minimize officers’ time away from the Palisades.”

The Stop in Center is located at 15224 Sunset Boulevard. Community members are invited to visit the center when they see a police car parked outside, indicating an officer is available—which differs from a sub-station, as those have officers available on site at specific times.

There will be public roll calls each morning at 10 a.m. at different locations in the Palisades, which LAPD invited community members to attend. The next few will be taking place June 27 at 14801 Pampas Ricas Boulevard, June 28 at 16801 Pacific Coast Highway (Bel-Air Bay Club) and June 29 at 17940 Pacific Coast Highway (Coastline parking lot). An extended calendar is available on the Pacific Palisades Community Council website.

When it comes to contacting LAPD, life-threatening emergencies should be called or texted to 911. For non-emergencies, call 877-275-5273 or the LAPD West Los Angeles Community Police Station: 310-444-0701. There is a community online reporting system available at lapdonline.org.

An email address, which will reach LAPD Senior Lead Officers Brian Espin and Matthew Kirk, has been set up: palisades@lapd.online. “Tips and other non-emergency information” can be sent to this address.

“I believe we’re in a good place to be able to be effective moving forward,” McDonnell said on June 16, “and anybody who comes to test it, I think we’ll see that the level of visibility is pretty dramatic.”

FireAid Officials Present Grant Strategy, Updates at PPCC Meeting

By
Lily Tinoco
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Courtesy of PPCC

By LILY TINOCO | Assistant Editor

Pacific Palisades Community Council hosted a presentation led by LA Clippers Chief Communications Officer Chris Wallace and FireAid’s Lisa Cleri Reale on Thursday, June 12.

Wallace and Reale—who leads the FireAid grants program—discussed FireAid’s work and the process involved in providing grants to nonprofits for fire recovery.

Wallace explained that in January, a FireAid benefit concert took place at Intuit Dome and Kia Forum to raise money for those affected by the Los Angeles fires. The event—spearheaded by the Ballmer Group, co-founded by Clippers owner Steve Ballmer and his wife Connie—featured over 30 artists and presenters, including former Honorary Mayor Billy Crystal, Olivia Rodrigo, Billie Eilish, Red Hot Chili Peppers and more. An estimated $100 million was raised to be designated for direct fire relief.

Wallace explained that funds are being released in three phases. The first round of grants—which was distributed in February—provided $50 million to more than 120 nonprofit organizations.

“These grants supported families, displaced homeowners, foster youth, seniors, small business owners, first responders, artists and others with emergency housing, food assistance, trauma counseling, direct financial relief, childcare, and animal welfare services,” according to a statement.

Wallace and Reale spoke about their experiences working with Palisades-based organizations, noting that several area nonprofits received funding during the first and second phases of FireAid grants.

“The FireAid grantmaking process was extensive and community-informed,” Wallace said to PPCC in May. “It involved local outreach, feedback from those directly affected and collaboration with nonprofit organizations embedded in fire-impacted neighborhoods. Grant recommendations were developed by an experienced operations team, reviewed by an independent advisory committee with deep familiarity across the region—including site visits and conversations with fire victims—and ultimately approved by the FireAid Board.

“We are proud to share that over $21 million in the Phase 1 FireAid funding was directed to organizations serving the Palisades and adjacent communities, as well as many Los Angeles countywide organizations that serve Palisades wildfire-impacted residents.”

The organizations include Palisades Charter High School, Palisades Recreation Center, Chabad Jewish Community Center of Pacific Palisades, Westside Food Bank and Meals on Wheels West.

The distribution of an additional approximate $25 million was announced in June in a second round of grants. Of that, more than $14 million was proposed for organizations serving the Palisades and surrounding areas, including funding for the library and high school baseball field.

Additional Palisades nonprofits are expected to receive FireAid funding in the third round of grants, scheduled for early fall. Wallace said the third round is set for late August or early September.

“We know there’s more to learn, there are more people we need to meet, there’s more listening to be done,” Reale added. “That’s kind of why we’re here this evening to reach out to you … We’re reaching out to you because we want to know what groups [we] haven’t spoken to, that we should be speaking to. We really would love to hear your thoughts about recovery, about rebuilding, about some of your challenges and any other issues you’ve identified that you think that we should know about as we strategize for round three.”

NORC

Toward the end of the June 12 meeting, PPCC Vice-President Quentin Fleming provided an update regarding the status of the NORC focus groups.

Palisadians were invited to join a series of focus groups between Monday, June 23, and Friday, June 27, to help shape a communitywide survey that is planned to launch this summer.

Researchers from NORC at the University of Chicago, in partnership with PPCC and funded by the Riviera Foundation, launched a study to understand the Palisades’ “priorities, values and preferences for recovery and rebuilding” following the January fire.

Researchers assembled focus groups that were designed to reflect a full range of experiences within the Palisades community, with residents from all neighborhoods invited to participate.

“Your input will directly influence the information that is shared with community, state and national decision makers,” according to NORC.

Fleming reported a “good response,” with nearly 300 individuals expressing interest in participating.

The next PPCC meeting is scheduled for Thursday, June 26, at 6 p.m. via Zoom.

For more information or to apply for a Phase 3 grant, visit fireaidla.org or contact donations@fireaidla.org.

Rescued Tidewater Gobies Return to Santa Monica Mountains

By
Lily Tinoco
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Releasing the tidewater gobies
Photos courtesy of RCDSMM

By LILY TINOCO | Assistant Editor

After months of recovery following the Palisades fire, a group of rescued northern tidewater gobies has been successfully reintroduced to their native habitat, Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains reported on June 18.

Biologists rescued the tidewater gobies from Topanga Canyon Lagoon—one of the species’ few remaining habitats—in January after the Palisades fire severely damaged their habitat.

The recovery effort was a collaborative venture involving California State University, Channel Islands, RCDSMM, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey, and California State Parks.

Tidewater gobies live in small groups, spread across many lagoons along the coast.

“The ecological role tidewater gobies serve in their environment is similar to that of a keystone species,” according to a statement about the effort. “Their presence or absence can signal the health of the entire system, including coastal food webs and lagoon habitats. They help regulate the invertebrate population, including mosquito larvae, while serving as prey for native birds and large fish.”

The 750 fish, according to a March update from RCDSMM, received care at Aquarium of the Pacific and Heal the Bay Aquarium. The two aquariums each took in the fish to temporarily house them as the fire had heavily impacted their habitat in the wild.

“These groups are semi-connected, so if one lagoon becomes unsuitable—such as when debris, ash and sediment wash in after a wildfire—gobies from nearby lagoons can move in and recolonize once conditions improve,” the statement continued. “Since there were limited sites nearby for natural recolonization near Topanga Canyon after the Palisades fire, biologists stepped in to help relocate and reintroduce gobies to support the recovery of local populations.”

Though the Topanga Lagoon was significantly impacted by sedimentation from the fire, “sufficient” habitat is now available, and the fish have been safely returned to their habitat in the wild.

“Their return to Topanga Lagoon is significant because it supported the healthiest and most consistently abundant northern tidewater goby population in Los Angeles County until the Palisades fire broke out,” read the statement. “Not only is their return important for their local recovery, but their genetic traits may also be preserved so they can adapt to warmer, more variable conditions.”

Ongoing monitoring to support the species’ survival will be carried out by RCDSMM in collaboration with CSUCI students and faculty.

“After the devastation wrought by the Palisades fire, the return of the rescued tidewater gobies to Topanga Creek is a shining example of how collaboration makes our communities and coastline more resilient,” Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors Director Gary Jones said. “Caring for our coast is a team effort, and we are thrilled to see such a positive outcome.”

Cinque Terre West Reopens in Venice

By
Sarah Shmerling
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Courtesy of Cinque Terre West

Cinque Terre West—owned and operated by Palisadians Gianbattista “Gianba” and Marlo Vinzoni—reopened at a new location at 523 Rose Avenue in Venice on Monday, June 23.

“We are thrilled to be back and grateful for the support we’ve received from our community during such a challenging time,” Marlo said. “Venice is such a vibrant, welcoming community, and we’re so excited to share our passion for authentic Italian food with our longtime regulars and new friends in the neighborhood.”

Cinque Terre West, which first opened in 2019, is known for its “authentic Ligurian dishes,” including “fresh seafood, house-made pastas, risottos and made-from-scratch pizzas, bringing the flavors of the Cinque Terre region of Italy to the heart of Los Angeles.” It has reopened alongside DELIzioso Cinque, the Vinzonis’ deli that was open on the same street in the Palisades.

The Vinzonis owned and operated Monument Street eatery DELIzioso Cinque, which was open at the time of the Palisades fire, as well as Cinque Terre West and Enoteca Cinque, which had previously closed in June 2024. They temporarily served a full menu through Cinque Terre West and DELIzioso Cinque through The Colony beginning in March.

The newly opened 50-seat restaurant in Venice is serving “signature favorites”—like roasted Branzino alla Mediterranea, Spaghetti di Mare, Trofie al Pesto and Pollo al Limone—as well as brunch and dinner daily. There will also be house-baked cornetti—Italian croissants.

“We’re incredibly touched by the generosity of our customers and the entire community,” Gianba said. “It’s been a long road, but we’re excited to be back offering the flavors of the Cinque Terre with our guests.”

The restaurant is open for brunch from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily, as well as dinner Monday to Thursday from 5 to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday from 5 to 9:30 p.m.; and Sundays from 5 to 8 p.m.                  

—SARAH SHMERLING

Getty Villa to Present ‘The Griffin Warrior of Pylos’ Lecture

By
Sarah Shmerling
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"The Combat Agate": Seal stone with a duel between two warriors fighting over the body of a third dead warrior, 1500–1450 B.C., Minoan, Greek. Banded agate and gold. © Hellenic Ministry of Culture – Hellenic Organization of Cultural Resources Development / Archaeological Museum of Chora / © Palace of Nestor Excavations, Department of Classics, University of Cincinnati / Photo: Jeff Vanderpool

Getty Villa—which reopens June 27—will host a lecture on “The Griffin Warrior of Pylos and the Origins of Mycenaean Kingship” on Saturday, June 28, at 3 p.m.

“Recent excavations have unearthed exciting evidence of the wealth and political importance of Pylos, a Greek Bronze Age site mentioned in Homer,” read information from Getty. “Archaeologists Sharon Stocker and Jack Davis of the University of Cincinnati present their latest discoveries and provide a broad context for the first major North American exhibition dedicated to Mycenaean civilization (1700 to 1070 BCE).”

The lecture will take place in person at Getty Villa, 17985 Pacific Coast Highway, as well as online via Zoom. Tickets are free, but will be required for event entrance. Registration can be completed online at getty.edu/calendar/griffin-warrior-pylos.

—SARAH SHMERLING

Palisades Symphony to Host ‘Best of Broadway: Decade by Decade’

By
Sarah Shmerling
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Palisades Symphony will present “Best of Broadway: Decade by Decade” on Sunday, June 29, beginning at 4 p.m. at Heart of LA Recreation & Arts Center, located at 615 South La Fayette Park Place in Los Angeles.

“Travel back through 130 years of show-stopping Broadway hits as the Palisades Symphony and guest vocalists sweep from Sousa’s ‘El Capitan’ and Gershwin’s ‘The Man I Love’ to Rodgers and Hammerstein’s ‘If I Loved You,’ Bernstein’s ‘West Side Story,’ ABBA’s ‘Mamma Mia!,’ and more—all in one exhilarating open-air, full-orchestra concert,” read an event description. “Curated with Broadway icon Michael Feinstein, ‘Best of Broadway: Decade by Decade’ is a free, outdoor musical time-machine—perfect for families, theatre lovers and anyone who can’t resist a great tune.”

Admission is free and seating is open. Those who attend are invited to bring a chair, blanket and snacks for the “unique, open-air music experience.” For more information, visit palisadessymphony.org.

—SARAH SHMERLING

LADWP, CD 11 Virtual Town Hall on July 2

By
Sarah Shmerling
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Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and Councilmember Traci Park will host a virtual town hall for Pacific Palisades on Wednesday, July 2, from 5 to 6:30 p.m.

“LADWP will present on their plans for major undergrounding power, upgrading water lines and provide an update on the Santa Ynez Reservoir,” according to information shared by Park’s office.

A link to RSVP is available at Park’s website: cd11.lacity.gov/cd-11-community-calendar.  

—SARAH SHMERLING

‘Jimmy Dunne Says’

By
the Palisadian-Post
-
Photo courtesy of Jimmy Dunne

Thoughts from the Back of a Napkin

I’ve always loved quotes. They’re poetry that got tired of dress shoes and slipped on some flip-flops. A good quote is like a good biscuit—small, warm and says a lot without trying too hard. No rules, no meter, no fancy footwork—just a gut-punch of truth, if they’re worth their salt.

Here are a few of mine over the years from various writings about a little bit of this and that …

“Some chase fame, some chase fortune. The lucky ones chase their kids down a Palisades sidewalk.”

“A family dinner table. Where time slows down, laughter lingers and love gets passed around like the mashed potatoes.”

“If someone knows all your stories and still answers your calls—that’s not just a friend, that’s a miracle.”

“You wash your car, shine your shoes, clean your kitchen. Maybe give that head of yours a little sweepin‘ too.”

“Pacific Palisades. You’ve got the mountains on one side, the ocean on the other and the best folks you’ll ever meet smack in the middle. That’s what I call good real estate.”

“Hope’s like a rocking chair. Gives you somethin‘ to do—but it won’t get you off the porch.”

“Mother nature didn’t build junk. Your body is a masterpiece on a 99-year land lease.”

“If you carry around a three-pound weight long enough in your hand, it’s going to start feeling heavier than a bowling ball. Set the thing down.”

“Oscar Hammerstein said, ‘Life is a carousel, my friend; life is a carousel.’ So true. The ride is so much fun if it’s at the right speed—and lasts the right amount of time. But it’s no fun if it’s spinning too fast—and you can’t get off.”

“In the Palisades, family isn’t just who you live with—it’s who you live near.”

“Happiness isn’t a destination stamped on your passport. It’s a treasure that seeps through in the middle of your everyday life—right there between the dishes, and the dog hair, and the people you love.”

“Life. Kind of like a borrowed coat. So warm and comfy for a while—but you gotta give it back.”

“A good friend is like a porch light. They’ll guide you home, and flash twice when you’re talkin‘ crazy.”

“It’s funny how far you can get with a little grace, a lot of grit and the kind of hope that doesn’t mind swimming upstream.”

“You can’t steer forward when you keep peeking in the rearview mirror.”

“Pacific Palisades. It’s the kind of town where the mailman gets more waves than a movie star.”

“When I cross the finish line, I want to be dancing through it.”

“As a kid, there was a trendy brand of shoes everyone wore in our town. Called ‘gym shoes.’”

“There’s nothing wrong with growing older. There’s only something wrong with pretending you didn’t.”

“Funny how we’ll change the oil every 3,000 miles, but we won’t check in on the engine upstairs ’til it’s smokin‘.”

“Gratitude’s a lot like gravy. Makes everything taste a little better.”

“You can’t write a fabulous new chapter to your story if you’re still readin‘ the last one out loud.”

“The first jackpot I hit was nine months before I was born. In a short swimming race against 100 million other fine competitors.”

“I love that moment when the sun says hello. Where the sky’s still honest, and the day hasn’t asked anything of you yet.”

“If you don’t get rid of the weeds in your garden, they’re gonna start sproutin‘ up in your kid’s gardens, too.”

“In Pacific Palisades, the sun’s not the only thing that rises with a smile.”

“The only thing wrong with nine holes of golf? Three holes too many.”

“We weren’t born with a right to be happy—we were born with a chance. And what a beautiful, wild, sacred chance it is.”

“A front porch swing. Best enjoyed slow, with a breeze, and next to somebody who still thinks your jokes are funny.”

“The good stuff in life doesn’t shout. It whispers. The trick is being still enough to hear it.”

“There isn’t a pill on God’s green earth that can do what sittin‘ under a tree’ll do.”

“Keep the Botox in the drawer. You know what beauty really is? Laugh lines that say you didn’t waste the years.”

“The beauty of life isn’t in how long it lasts. It’s in how deeply we feel it while it’s here.”

“In the Palisades, you don’t just live between the mountains and the big, blue sea—you live between gratitude and grace.”

Jimmy Dunne is a modern-day Renaissance Man; a hit songwriter (28 million hit records), screenwriter/producer of hit television series, award-winning author, an entrepreneur—and a Palisadian “Citizen of the Year.” You can reach him at j@jimmydunne.com or jimmydunne.substack.com.

Your Two Cents’ Worth

By
the Palisadian-Post
-

Getty Center

Thank you, Getty Center. The experts at your free Conservation Clinic on June 14 gave me invaluable advice for saving all of my types of artwork.

Theatre Palisades

It was SO nice to see a Theatre Palisades show. Missing Pierson Playhouse, but I love that the show went on. Bravo to all involved.

Lucky

Hip, hip hurray to one of the greatest treasures of our town, Maryam Zar. Selflessly giving at least a billion hours of her talent, her leadership, and her passionate heart to the greatest place. Lucky, lucky us.

Graduates

I loved seeing the Pali High graduation photos in last week’s paper. Having a ceremony at Hollywood Bowl is unforgettable.

Businesses

Please continue to patronize our local businesses whenever possible.

Got something to say? Call 310-454-1321 or email 2cents@palipost.com and get those kudos or concerns off your chest. Names will not be used.

Objects of Affection

By
Sarah Shmerling
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Goldberg, Madden and Washburn
Photos by Chase Hirt/Imaginaire Media

Three Palisadians Host Fundraising Event, Commemorative Art Exhibit

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

At the end of 2024, lifelong Palisadian Kristen Goldberg was at the airport with her family, waiting to go on vacation, when she posed the question: “What objects are super dear to you, and what would you take if our house was about to burn down?”

Goldberg, who lost her Alphabet Streets home in the Palisades fire less than two weeks later, described asking that question as “the eeriest thing of all time.”

“For me, it was my stuffed animal, Mr. Bunny, and we’re just talking about it,” Goldberg said. “Then, we lost our home, and it was just so eerie.”

At the time, the question came from a project Goldberg was embarking on to get back into painting, centered on a series of meaningful objects to people—starting with her friend, Liz Madden, who had just moved into a new apartment and requested a piece from Goldberg. Madden suggested Goldberg call the series “Objects of Affection.”

The project took on a new meaning after the fire, shifting into a fundraising event that took place on June 1 to support Together Palisades, put on by Goldberg, Madden and Josie Washburn—a trio of friends who originally met while attending St. Matthew’s Parish School.

Washburn, who was living in the Palisades at the time of the fire, and Madden, who grew up in the community but had moved out of it, did not lose their family homes, but described the collective experience of “so many people we love and grew up with.”

“It was just such a devastating event,” Madden said, “and we were also just gobsmacked.”

So at the end of January, when the idea of Objects of Affection resurfaced, Goldberg wanted to make it into a fire fundraiser.

“This is the time to do it,” Goldberg recalled thinking. “I feel like it wasn’t meant to happen at the end of [last] year, because it was meant to happen post fires.”

Put on to give Palisadians a chance to “reconnect, share stories, and celebrate the history and heart” of the community, Objects of Affection was centered on a group exhibit, “honoring the objects of affections we lost to the fire.” Prior to the event, they had an open call for the exhibit, inviting community members to submit their own pieces.

“That’s how the art prompt came to be, which is what we built the event around, allowing folks to create pieces of art around objects they lost in the fires,” Goldberg said, “so they can transform their grief into something new and beautiful.”

Goldberg contributed a painting of Mr. Bunny. Other items that were on display included part of an iron frame that was salvaged from an Alphabet Streets home, “If It Breaks It’s Okay” by Hannah Sharpe, and “Resilience in Clay” by potter Mara Greenwald.

“[Mara] had, literally the night before the fires, put two pots in her kiln, and then their house burned down,” Goldberg said. “The only thing that remained was the kiln, and these pots were totally untouched. Those were a huge part of the art show.”

Goldberg explained that they allowed people to expand beyond the prompt itself.

“It didn’t just need to be fire victims that were creating art,” she described. “We allowed the art to be about your love for the Palisades in general.”

The event also featured brands and businesses with ties to the community, including Pali Wine Co. and Sunset Smash.

“It was so special to have local brands there that we all know and love,” Goldberg said.

Over $6,000 from ticket and merchandise sales at the event—which had about 70 attendees—went to support Together Palisades, which is a “community-led effort focused on rebuilding” things like small businesses, parks, gathering spaces and more.

Washburn, who said she has a “massive family” with parents who “know everyone” and siblings who are “friends with everyone,” had heard about Together Palisades and the work the organization was doing after the fire.

“They put incredible thought into where the money was going and how it would be best utilized,” Washburn said. “If we were going to collect money, we wanted to know that it was going somewhere legitimate and it was going to be used for what we wanted it to be used for.”

Washburn described feeling “really aligned” with the work Together Palisades is doing and that asking people to donate there “made sense for us.”

Overall, all three organizers expressed how well the event went, in terms of fundraising and bringing the community together.

“It was so incredibly special to see so many parts of our community coming together, like worlds colliding,” Goldberg described. “It was a really special day.”

Washburn said they were able to bring people that “we personally hadn’t seen in now decades that were lifelong Palisadians too, and they, in turn, got to see other people that they hadn’t seen in forever.”

“It was beautiful, all of these Palisadians connecting, and our shared love of the community—that brings us together so much, even if we hadn’t seen each other in so long, we still have that to talk about,” Washburn continued.

She described two men who were in the same grade at St. Matthew’s that she thinks “haven’t seen each other since graduation day of eighth grade.”

“I look over and they’re in the most beautiful embrace,” Washburn said. “I truly was tearing up. They were so genuinely happy to see each other and have a reason to connect after all these years.”

Madden said that people from “all walks of life” showed up to the event, including from AYSO, people they grew up with and went to school with, and parents’ friends: “Everyone really came together.”

When it comes to events in the future, the trio was unsure if there would be another Objects of Affection or event of this caliber, but they expressed interest in creating “communal gathering spaces for us to come together that are intentional.” Together Palisades also has ideas for events in the works for the future.

“It’s so important to keep having things like this and finding times to connect together,” Goldberg said. “We all live in LA—we’re in Santa Monica and Brentwood—and it has been weird to see life just going on as normal and there’s literal devastation a mile and a half away that doesn’t feel like it’s being talked about that much anymore. It is just so important to us to be like, ‘Hey, this did happen, we do all still need support … we all need to be there for each other still.’”

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